Air India removes Vienna stop on Delhi-Toronto route

Air India has removed the Vienna fuel stop on its Delhi-Toronto route from August 1, deploying a new Boeing 787-9 aircraft to operate the sector non-stop.

The change is expected to cut around three hours off the journey, bringing flying time down to about 17 hours from close to 20 hours with the fuel stop.

The return Toronto-Delhi service will continue non-stop, with flying time of up to 16 hours.

The airline is also increasing frequency on the route from five weekly flights to a daily service from August 1.

The new 787-9 aircraft carries 30 private suites in Business Class, 28 Premium Economy seats and 238 Economy seats, with cabins combining contemporary design and Indian-inspired aesthetics.

Air India said the removal of the fuel stop is subject to available airspace.

The switch is part of Air India’s broader fleet modernisation push, which has brought new aircraft and refreshed cabins to several international routes.

Vienna had served as the refuelling stop for the Delhi-Toronto sector for several years before Wednesday’s change.

The airline separately restored its codeshare partnership with Air Canada in December 2025, five years after it was suspended during the pandemic, extending its customers’ reach to further Canadian destinations.

Each seat on the new aircraft is fitted with Thales’ AVANT Up in-flight entertainment system, offering high-definition screens, Bluetooth headphone pairing and updated charging options.

Toronto is one of a number of North American cities served directly by Air India, alongside destinations including New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Vancouver.

Air India has been steadily inducting new aircraft and refreshing cabin products across its international network as part of a broader fleet modernisation programme in recent years.

Vienna had served as the enroute fuel stop for the Delhi-Toronto sector for several years, adding significantly to overall journey time for passengers travelling between India and Canada.

(Image: Photo by Steve Knight, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0)